Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Gunners have closed their training ground and club staff who had recent contact with Arteta will now self-isolate.
The Premier League will hold “an emergency club meeting” on Friday to discuss future fixtures.
“This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly,” said Spaniard Arteta, 37. “I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.”
Arsenal expects a “significant number of people” will self-isolate, including the “full first-team squad”.
In an Offical club statement, Arsenal Football Club said “
Our London Colney training centre has been closed after head coach Mikel Arteta received a positive COVID-19 result this evening.
Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now
self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. We expect this
to be a significant number of people from Colney, including the full
first-team squad and coaching staff, as well as a smaller number of
people from our Hale End Academy which we have also temporarily closed
as a precaution.
We expect those who did not have close contact with Mikel to return to
work in the coming days. In the meantime our Colney and Hale End
training centres will undergo a deep clean and our other club sites are
operating as normal.
Managing director Vinai Venkatesham said: “The health of our people and
the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is. Our
thoughts are with Mikel who is disappointed but in good spirits. We are
in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation
appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and
playing as soon as medical advice allows.”
Head of football Raul Sanllehi added: “Mikel and the full first-team
squad, players and staff, will be fully supported, and we look forward
to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice
allows. Obviously Mikel’s full recovery is the priority now for us
all.”
We will work with Public Health England on the next steps in regard to our facilities and staff, and with the Premier League, Football Association and relevant clubs around our forthcoming matches in the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup.
It is clear we will not be able to play some fixtures on their currently scheduled dates. We will update supporters who have tickets for forthcoming games with more information as soon as possible.
We are now working to trace any other people who have had recent close contact with Mikel. We will let them know what has happened and they should follow the NHS guidance which is likely to recommend self-isolation.”